How are former Penn State players doing in the NFL after two weeks?

The NFL season is two weeks old. And, former Penn State players are thriving at the next level so far. Mitchell Tinsley caught his first touchdown pass last Sunday. Abdul Carter is the favorite to win the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honor at BetMGM. And Sean Clifford and Curtis Jacobs became the latest onetime Nittany Lions to join a pro team. They are now on the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants’ practice squads, respectively.

A full recap of former Lions in the NFL after two weeks is below.

Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State from 2015-17), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Barkley has not yet had one of his signature highlight plays. But, he has help lift his team to a 2-0 start. He has 40 carries for 148 yards and a touchdown over the first two weeks. 

Ryan Bates (2016-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Bates has only received special teams work so far this season. He has a total of eight snaps over two games. 

Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker has started both games for the Bears, who are 0-2. He has recorded 14 tackles. 

Ji’Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: After having no stats in his team’s opener despite starting, Brown made two tackles and had a pass breakup in his team’s 26-21 Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints. 

Abdul Carter (2022-24), DE, New York Giants: Carter is a massive favorite to win the AP NFC Rookie of the Year honor at BetMGM, and with good reason. Through two weeks, the rookie has four tackles (0.5 for loss) and a quarterback hit, and he’s been explosive in ways that do not show up on the stat sheet. 

Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Philadelphia Eagles: Castro-Field is on injured reserve. 

Sean Clifford (2017-21), QB, Cincinnati Bengals: After being cut by Greeen Bay at the end of training camp, Clifford was signed to the Bengals practice squad on Sept. 16 after starting quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a long-term injury that required the team to shuffle its quarterback room.

Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: After catching three passes for 59 yards in Week 1, Dotson had a quieter week two, as he logged just one reception for four yards as the Eagles beat the Chiefs 20-17.

Arnold Ebiketie (2021), LB, Atlanta Falcons: Ebiketie has seven tackles (one for loss) over the Falcons’ first two games. The team is 1-1. 

Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23), OL, New York Jets: Fashanu has started the first two games for the Jets at left tackle. Over the course of them, he has played 111 snaps. He has yet to be penalized but has been just OK so far, per Pro Football Focus’ grades. 

Pat Freiermuth (Played at Penn State from 2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth has started one of the Steelers’ two games. He’s been productive so far, totaling six catches for 59 yards.

Will Fries (2017-20), OL, Minnesota Vikings: After signing a massive new deal with the NFC North franchise this offseason, Fries has started both games so far at right guard. He’s totaled 103 snaps so far. 

Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Gesicki has started one of two games for Cincinnati this year. He has caught just four of the seven passes sent his way for 32 yards, He has not yet found the end zone this season. 

Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, Arizona Cardinals: After two weeks, Gillikin is fifth in the NFL with an average of 51.8 yards per punt. His net average is 46.8 yards, which is second only to fellow former Penn State specialist Jordan Stout. 

Kevin Givens (2016-18), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Givens started the 2025 season on injured reserve. 

Chris Godwin (2014-16), WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Godwin was activated from the physically unable to perform list before the 2025 season started. But, after missing Week 1, he is just now returning to the practice field during Week 2 of the regular season and is not expected to play until late September or early October. 

Yetur Gross-Matos (Played at Penn State from 2017-19), DE, San Francisco 49ers: YGM has one tackle and one quarterback hit over the first two weeks of the season. He is playing on only 28 percent of his team’s defensive snaps so far. 

Adisa Isaac (2019-23), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Issac is out with an elbow injury. It is unclear when the former Penn State pass rusher will return to action.

Coziah Izzard (2020-24), DT, New Orleans Saints: Izzard was signed to the NFC South franchise’s practice squad on Sept. 1.

Curtis Jacobs (2020-2023), LB, New York Giants: Jacobs was signed to the team’s practice squad on Sept. 16.

Austin Johnson (2013-15), DT, Jacksonville Jaguars: Johnson has one pass breakup and one tackle over the first two weeks of the season. He is playing 19 percent of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps and 14 of their special team snaps so far.

Theo Johnson (2020-23), TE, New York Giants: After a quiet Week 1 in which he caught just one pass for five yards, Johnson caught four for 34 in his team’s Week 2 overtime loss to Dallas. 

DaQuan Jones (2010-13), DL, Buffalo Bills: Jones has just one tackle for loss over the first two weeks of the season. He is playing nearl 60 percent of the Bills’ defensive snaps. 

Jalen Kimber (2024), CB, Tennessee Titans: Kimber is currently on the team’s practice squad. 

Kalen King (2021-23), CB, Carolina Panthers: King was cut by the Panthers on Aug. 25. The Panthers signed him to their practice squad on Aug. 28. 

Kobe King (2021-24), LB, Minnesota Vikings: King has only played on special teams so far this season. He has 28 snaps, and it’s unclear when he will make his defensive debut.

Connor McGovern (2016-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: McGovern has started both games this year at center for Buffalo. He has logged 152 snaps so far. 

PJ Mustipher (2018-22), DL, Arizona Cardinals: Mustipher has three tackles so far this season while playing defense and special teams. 

Hunter Nourzad (2022-23), OL, Kansas City Chiefs: Nourzad has been inactive for the first two games of his team’s season.

Odafe Oweh (2019-20), LB, Baltimore Ravens: Oweh has a tackle and three quarterback hurries over the first two games of the year. He is playing on 50 percent of the Ravens’ defensive snaps. 

Joey Porter Jr. (2019-22), CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: After recording just a single tackle in Week 1, Porter Jr., missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury. It’s unclear how long the injury will keep him out. But, a trip to injured reserve is not expected. 

Jaylen Reed (2021-24), S, Houston Texans: Reed is currently on the injured reserve list. 

Chop Robinson (2022-23), DE, Miami Dolphins: Robinson has three tackles and one quarterback hurry while playing defense and special teams. 

Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Dallas Cowboys: Sanders has carried nine times for 68 yards and a touchdown over the first two games with his new team. He’s also caught two passes for four yards. 

Nick Scott (2015-18), S, Carolina Panthers: Scott has played every defensive snap but one for the Panthers over the first two weeks. He has made eight tackles and also has a pass breakup.

Juice Scruggs (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans: Scruggs is playing only special teams for the Texans. He has played three snaps in over each of the team’s first two games. 

Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: Stoll is back as the team’s long snapper this season. He has been in for 18 plays so far. 

Jordan Stout (Played at Penn State from 2019-21), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout leads the NFL in net punting with 48.9 yards per boot over eight attempts so far this season. 

Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange has caught seven of nine targets over the first two weeks for 76 yards. 

Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Tinsley caught his first NFL pass in the Bengals’ Week 2 win over Jacksonville. It went for 13 yards and a touchdown.

Rasheed Walker (2019-21), OL, Green Bay Packers: Walker is the Packers’ starting left tackle. He’s been in for 116 snaps so far, and was the team’s best overall blocker, per PFF, in its Week 2 win over Washington.

Caedan Wallace (2019-23), OL, New England Patriots: Wallace has not yet played for the Patriots this season.

Tyler Warren (2020-24), TE, Indianapolis Colts: Much like he was for Penn State, Warren is a super utility knife for the Colts. He has 11 receptions for 155 yards over the first two weeks, although he has not yet found the end zone. 

Parker Washington (Played at Penn State from 2020-22), WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: After being held off the stat sheet in Week 1, Washington caught five passes for 76 yards in the Jaguars’ Week 2 loss to Cincinnati. 

Kevin Winston Jr. (2022-24), S, Tennessee Titans: Winston Jr., has yet to suit up for the Titans during the regular season. It’s unclear if he is still recovering from the partial ACL tear that cost him much of the 2024 season at Penn State. 

Sal Wormley (2019-24), OG, Jacksonville Jaguars: Wormley is on the Jaguars’ practice squad.